Housing for Bicyclists Only

I recently read an article related to the development of an apartment unit in downtown Seattle that is catering to the bicycle crowd. Going by the name of Via6 the new apartment building is situated conveniently downtown so that residents can live and work within minutes of each other. The convenience continues with bicycle storage (for members of the ViaBike club)

Seattle’s Velo Bike Shop will also be coming to the retail section of the new apartment buildings. Having such an established cycling store nearby will be very attractive to not only residents of the new apartment complex, but also people that live in the surrounding area.

This isn’t a new concept and it makes perfect sense in today’s commuting world. More and more people are choosing to live in cities and cycling has seen an increase in numbers in the last few years as a means of commuting. In Bloomington, Indiana there is a group of apartments where a requirement to live there is not owning a motorized vehicle. Aptly named, The Bicycle Apartments, these apartments lack the flash that Via6 will have, but still carry the same ethos.

It’s an intriguing concept for housing, especially in dense urban environments. Allowing residents to benefit from their favorite mode of commuting or transport by giving them access to a facility that supports them is a step in the right direction.